BALABAC, Palawan — A 50-year-old construction worker identified only by his nickname “Amboy” was fatally mauled by a crocodile while walking along the shoreline of Sitio Binasag, Barangay Sebaring, in the town of Balabac, Palawan. Authorities reported that the man’s body was found severely dismembered, underscoring the extreme violence of the attack.

According to Chan Alsad, chief of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) in Balabac, search teams had been looking for the victim since the previous day. The body was finally recovered in the morning, prompting urgent recommendations for the capture and removal of the crocodile from the area to prevent similar attacks in the future.

The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) has been advised to take immediate action to mitigate the risk posed by the predatory animal, especially in coastal communities where human and wildlife habitats overlap.

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing wildlife conservation with public safety. While crocodiles are protected species in Palawan, incidents such as this raise urgent questions about the effectiveness of monitoring, community awareness, and safety measures for residents living near natural habitats.

Experts suggest that better signage, controlled access to high-risk areas, and early warning systems could prevent further tragedies. However, it also sparks a broader debate: should human safety take priority over wildlife protection, and how can local authorities responsibly manage such conflicts? Could enhanced wildlife management prevent future attacks without endangering Palawan’s protected species? (Larawan: Quezon Province News / Facebook)